Can opener



G. T. NOLAN CAN OPENER Filed May}. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E -.i -l llliitllii m WT a E G A TTORNE Y8 Jan. 6, 1925. 1,522,319

G. 'r. NOLAN CAN OPENER Filed May l 1923 2 she etssheet 2 INVENTOR GmaEZNoLAM Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

PATENT orrica GEORGE THOMAS NOLAN, OF LARAMIE, WYOMING.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed May 1, 1923. Serial No. 635,922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE THOMAS NOLAN, a citizen of the United States, and

a resident of Laramie, in the county of Al-' bany and State of lVyoming, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can Openers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to can openers.

The general object of the invention is the provision of a can opener, simple in construction and efiicient in operation, provided with an adjustable holder for receiving cans of different sizes, and an adjust-' able cutter that may be set in different positions relative to the can holder so that it will operate on cans of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a can opener provided with means for giving the can and cutter certain motions to perform the cutting operation.

These objects are accomplished by mounting in alinement on a frame an adjustable cutter and a. rotary can holder, providing means for rotating the can holder, and giving it a longitudinal movement tocarry the can into engagement with the cutter during a portion of each rotation of the can holder.

These and other objects of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and accompany drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the can opener, partly .in section, showing its construction; I

Figure 2 is a vertical section along the line 22, Figure 1; p

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the can holder provided on the can opener,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the looking unit provided in conjunction with the can holder.

Referring to the above-mentioned drawings, the invention includes a frame 10 provided with a clamp 11 for attaching it to any support. Mounted in the frame 10 is a sleeve 12 forming a bearing for the operating shaft 13. A depending sleeve 15 is formed in the outer portion of the frame 10, providing a bearing for the spindle 14:.

A can. holder is carried by the spindle 14 and includes two stepped clamping jaws 16, 17. The aw 16 is formed integral with the spindle 1d while the jaw 17 is hinged to the jaw 16 at 18. The jaws are so mounted that, when brought together, the stepped portions registed with one another, providing means for gripping cans of different sizes. In order to lock the clamping jaws 16 and 17- together a link is pivotallymounted. on a projection 19 formed integral with the jaw 17. Pivotally mounted in the free end of the link 20 is a block 21 carrying: a threaded pin 22 which may be adusted relative to the block. The pin 22 has a curved end adapted for engaging in a notch 24 cut in a projection 23 formed on the jaw 16. As shown in Figure 1, a can 25 may be set on any of the stepped portions 16 and 17 depending upon its size and when the jaws are brought together the can is firmly held in position.

A mechanism is provided for rotating the can holder and giving it a movement along its axis as it rotates. This mechanism for giving the can holder a rotary motion includes the shaft 13 which is mounted in the sleeve 12 and supported in position by a collar 26adjustably mounted on the shaft. Formed on the upper end of the shaft 13 is a crank 27 presenting a means for operating the shaft. A sprocket wheel 28, fixed to the lower end of the shaft, is connected to a sprocket wheel 29 fixed to the lower end of the spindle. 14. by a chain 30. Thus a rotary movement given to the shaft 13 through the operation of they crank 27 is conveyed to the spindle 14, rotating the can holder. In order to give the can holder a movement along its axis, a spiral'groove a purpose hereinafter described. ,Thus a.

continuous groove extending completely around the spindle is provided. 4 A. pin 32 mounted in the sleeve 15 projects into the groove 31. As the spindle 14 is rotated the pin 32 gives the former a longitudinal movement to raise the can holder and can to the position shown in Figure 1.

A cutting unit is adjustably mounted on the sleeve 12. This cutting unit includes a collar 33 slidably mounted on the sleeve 12, and held against rotation on the sleeve by a spline 35 mounted in the sleeve and fitting in a groove provided in the collar. This collar may be set in different positions on the sleeve 12 by means of a set screw 37 which engages in notches 36 provided in the sleeve. An arm or beam 3 1 is carried by the collar 33 and projects over the can holder.

tudinal movement by the pin 32.

A casing 38 is slidably mounted on the beam or arm 34 and held against rotation by a key 39 extending longitudinally of the arm and engaging the casing. A set screw 40 is mounted in the casing for fixing the casing in different positions on the arm 84. Slidably mounted in a sleeve 41 formed integral with the casing 38 is a plunger 42. This plunger is normally retained in its raised position by a spring 43 mounted in the sleeve 41 and encircling the plunger. The plunger is held against rotation in the sleeve by a guide 44 which moves in a slot 45 cut in the sleeve. Attached to the lower end of the plunger 42 is a cutter 46. Pivotally mounted in the casing 38 is a dog 47 which engages in a notch 48 out in the plunger 42, serving to retain it in an active position when the plunger is forced downward against the action of the spring 43. lPivotally connected to the dog 47 is a depending rod 49 carrying a foot 50. This depending rod 49 is acted upon by a spring 52 mounted in a cylinder 51 through which the rod 49 extends. The action of the s iring 52 tends to retain the rod 49 forced downward, holding the dog 47 in engagement with the plunger 42. As shown in Figure 1, the foot extends toward the cutter 46 projecting over the can 25.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The can 25 to be opened is placed between the jaws 16 and 17, which are locked together by means of the link 20 and the member 22. The cutting unit is then adjusted on the sleeve 12, setting the cutter 46 above the can. Next the plunger 42 is forced down, projecting the end of the cutter 46 through the lid of the can 25 where it is held by the dog 47. The crank 27 is operated, rotating the shaft 13, the motion of which is conveyed through sprocket wheel 28, chain 330, sprocket wheel 29 to the spindle 14. This gives the can holder a rotary motion. As the can holder rotates, it is given a longi- The can is graduallymoved upward during the cutting operation by the longitudinal movement of the can holder. Finally, when the can has nearly completed one revolution, the edge of the can engages the foot 50, forcing the rod '49 upward, operating the dog 47, releasing the plunger 42. The spring 43 then projects the plunger upward out of engagement with the can. This projecting of the cutter upward out of engagement with the can after the latter has nearly completed one revolution leaves the lid attached to the can body by a narrow band of metal. Coir sequently, there is no danger of the lid fall ing into the can. The lid may now be pried upward and bent back over the edge of the can, giving access to the contents of the can. After the can holder has mace one revolution, owing to the ends of the groove overlapping, the pin 32 is permitted to pass into thelower end of the groove and the spindle 14 drops back from the position shown in Figure 1, to its normal position to lower the holder and can.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example; constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims:

1. A can opener comprising a frame, a revoluble and vertically movable can holder mounted on the frame, interengaging means on the frame and holder for raising and lowering the can holder, said means being separate from the revolving means and controlled thereby, and a knife supported on the frame in operative relation to the can holder.

2. A can opener comprising a frame, a revoluble and vertically movable can holder mounted on the frame, means for revolving the can holder, means separate from the revoluble means but controlled thereby for raising and lowering the can holder, a vertically movable knife carried by the frame, locking means forretaining the'knife in inactive position and means for releasing the locking means.

3-. In a. can opener including a frame, a ci'itting unit comprising a support adjustah y mounted on the frame, a casing movably merited on said support, a spring pressed plunger mounted in the casing, a blade carried by said plunger, means for engaging the plunger to retain the blade inan active position, and means for automatically releasing said engaging means at the end of the cutting operation.

4. can opener, comprising a frame, a rotary can holder mounted on the frame, means for operating said can holder, means formin -a part of the can holder operating means for giving said an holder a movement longitudinally of its axis as it rotates, a cutter adjustably mounted on'the frame above said can holder, means for retaining said cutter in an active position, and means for releasing said cutter on the completion of the cutting operation I 5. In a can opener including a frame, a cutting unit for mounting on the frame comprising a support carried by the frame, a casing mounted on said support, a sliding and spring pressed cutter mounted in the casing, means for locking the cutter in an active position, and means forautomatically releasing the cutter upon the completion of the cutting operation.

6. In a can opener comprising a frame, a cutting unit for mounting on the frame, comprising a support for adjustably mounting on the frame, a casing adjustably mounted on said support, a spring-controlled cutter movably mounted in the casing, said spring normally retaining the cutter in an inactive position, means carried by the casing for locking the cutter in an active position, and means for automatically releasing said looking means.

7. A can opener comprising a rotary can holder, means for rotating the can holder, a cutter, means for setting in operation the cutter for severing the head of a can supported by the holder, means for giving the can holder longitudinal movement during rotary movement thereof, and means actuated by the last named movement of the holder for discontinuing said cutting operation.

8. A can opener comprising a rotary can holder, a cutter, means for setting into operation the cutter for severing the head of a. can supported by the holder, and means adapted to automatically operate to discontinue said cutting operation previous to the moment the head of can is entirely severed.

9. A can opener comprising a rotary'can holder, means for rotating the holder, a cutter, means for setting into operation the cutter for severing a head in a can supported by the holder, means for giving the can holder longitudinal movement during rotary movement thereof, and means actuated by the last named movement of the can holder whereby the cutting operation will be discontinued at a moment previous to the complete severing of the head of said can.

10. A can opener, comprising a. frame, a cutter adjustably mounted on said frame, means for locking said. cutter in an active position, a rotary can holder mounted on said frame in alinement With said cutter, means for giving said rotary can holder a longitudinal movement as it rotates carrying the can into engagement With said cutter, and means operated by the cam for releasing the said locking means to permit the cutter to recede upon the completion of the cutting operation.

11. A can opener, comprising a frame, a cutter mounted on the frame and provided With a foot, a rotary can holder mounted on the frame in alinement With the cutter, means for rotating the can holder and imparting to it a gradual vertical movement, and means for automatically Withdrawing the cutter toan inactive position after it has completed the desired cutting stroke, said means being controlled by the engagement of the. can With the foot of the cutter.

12. A device of the character described for opening cans, comprising a cutter, means for retaining the cutter in an active position, means for giving the can a rotary and longitudinal movement to perform the cutting operation, and means provided in conjunction with the cutter and operated by the can for releasing the cutter and disengaging it from the can upon the completion of the desired cutting stroke;

13. In a. can opener, a sliding and spring pressed member, a cutter carried by the member, means for holding the member depressed against the action of its spring, and means for automatically releasing the said holding means.

14. In a can opener, a sliding and spring pressed member, a cutter carried by the members, a pivoted member engaging the cutter carrying member for holding the same depressed against the action of its spring, and a spring pressed rod pivoted to the member engaging the cutter carrying member and having a foot adjacent the cut rer.

15. In a can opener, a can holder formed of two hinged sections,.one of the sections being provided With a notched projection, a link pivoted to the other section, a block pivotally mounted in the free end of the link, and a member threaded in the block and adapted to engage With its free end the notch of the said projection.

GEORGE THOMAS NOLAN. 

